The difficulties of a career burglar to reinsert himself after being released on parole.
Directors:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dustin Hoffman | ... |
Max Dembo
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| Theresa Russell | ... |
Jenny Mercer
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| Gary Busey | ... |
Willy Darin
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| Harry Dean Stanton | ... |
Jerry Schue
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| M. Emmet Walsh | ... |
Earl Frank
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| Rita Taggart | ... |
Carol Schue
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| Kathy Bates | ... |
Selma Darin
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| Sandy Baron | ... |
Manny
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| Jake Busey | ... |
Henry Darin
(as Jacob Busey)
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| Tina Menard | ... |
Hotel Manager
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Stephanie Ericsson | ... |
Bar Patron
(as Stephanie Ericsson Baron)
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Dave Kelly | ... |
Counterman
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Don Sommese | ... |
Waiter
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Kit Jee Wong | ... |
Grocer
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| Peter Kwong | ... |
Grocery Clerk
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| Jane Howard | ... |
Employment Clerk
(as Betty Jane Howarth)
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Ronald L. Mellinger | ... |
Jail Guard
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| Michael Blakley | ... |
Beach Boy #1
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| John Colton | ... |
Beach Boy #2
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| Edward Bunker | ... |
Mickey
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Corey Rand | ... |
Carlos
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John Gilgreen | ... |
Bank Guard
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Mary Craven | ... |
Bank Teller
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| Peter Jurasik | ... |
Bank Teller
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Enid Hendershot | ... |
Girl at Bank
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James Ray | ... |
Jewelry Store Manager
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Stuart I. Berton | ... |
Salesman #1
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| Barry Cahill | ... |
Salesman #2
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Susan Sherman | ... |
Saleslady
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Francesca Drown | ... |
Saleslady
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Emily Le Rue | ... |
Girl
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Ernest Taylor III | ... |
Job Applicant
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| Fran Ryan | ... |
Cafe Owner
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Bob Jarvis | ... |
Police Officer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Mark F. Hill | ... |
Paramedic (uncredited)
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Mags Kavanaugh | ... |
Cocktail Waitress (uncredited)
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Daniel Nunez | ... |
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
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| John McKinley Robertson | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Mary Margaret Robinson | ... |
Hostage (uncredited)
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| Deborah Romare | ... |
Girl at Bank (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Ulu Grosbard | ||
| Dustin Hoffman | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Edward Bunker | ... | (based on the novel "No Beast So Fierce" by) |
| Alvin Sargent | ... | (screenplay by) & |
| Edward Bunker | ... | (screenplay by) & |
| Jeffrey Boam | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Michael Mann | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Nancy Dowd | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Stanley Beck | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Dustin Hoffman | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Gail Mutrux | ... | associate producer |
| Howard Pine | ... | executive producer (as Howard B. Pine) |
| Tim Zinnemann | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| David Shire | ||
Cinematography by
| Owen Roizman | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Sam O'Steen | ||
| Randy Roberts | ||
Casting By
| Dianne Crittenden | ... | (as Diane Crittenden) |
Production Design by
| Stephen B. Grimes | ... | (as Stephen Grimes) |
Art Direction by
| Dick Lawrence | ||
Set Decoration by
| Marvin March | ||
Makeup Department
| Vivienne Walker | ... | hair stylist |
| Bob Westmoreland | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Larry Franco | ... | second assistant director |
| Jack Roe | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Barry Bedig | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Richard Portman | ... | re-recording mixer (as Dick Portman) |
| James E. Webb | ... | production sound mixer (as Jim Webb) |
Stunts
| Everett Creach | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Alan Gibbs | ... | stunts |
| Victor Paul | ... | stunts |
| Sorin Serene Pricopie | ... | stunts (as Sorin Pricopie) |
| Dick Ziker | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Larry Holt | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Tim Griffith | ... | gaffer |
| Bob Rose | ... | key grip |
| Robert M. Stevens | ... | camera operator (as Bob Stevens) |
| Ronald L. Vargas Jr. | ... | first assistant camera |
| Tony Rivetti | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited) / steadicam (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Bernie Pollack | ... | costumer: men |
Music Department
| John Caper Jr. | ... | music editor |
| Michael Boddicker | ... | musician: synthesizer (uncredited) |
| Dan Wallin | ... | score mixer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| John Franco | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Wayne Roberts | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Susan Leslie Battles | ... | production coordinator (as Susan Battles) |
| Gene Levy | ... | auditor |
| Edward Bunker | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Warner Distributors (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1978) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Warner Filmes de Portugal (1978) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1978) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2015) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- Warner Bros. Archives (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Burbank Editorial Service Inc. (sound effects editing)
- Panavision (filmed with)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
After 6 years in prison, career criminal Max Dembo is released on parole. He wants to go straight, but doesn't like the restrictions of parole, much to his parole officer Earl Frank's chagrin. Some conditions--living in a halfway house, not associating with past friends and associates, no driving, and no drugs--could be more difficult than he imagines especially as his encounters with Earl become increasingly tense. Max deals with Earl the same way he deals with everything: his way or no way. Through his life in the outside world, he embarks on a relationship with Jenny Mercer, an employment-agency clerk he meets while looking for a job. Jenny knows about his past criminal history, but he ends up only telling her so much of his current life if only to protect her, just in case. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | "Please God, don't let him get caught." See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | A pet project for Dustin Hoffman, he was originally due to direct himself. Denied final cut by the studio, he ended up suing Warner Brothers over their treatment of the film. See more » |
| Goofs | When Max is incarcerated Jenny visits him and holds up her phone number against the glass. On returning to his cell Max tears off part of a cigarette wrapper and writes it down as 6561656. When he is later on the run he unfolds the piece of paper and looks at the number. It now has 2 digits transposed and is hyphenated: 656-6156. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into La classe américaine (1993). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Two of Us See more » |
| Quotes |
Max Dembo:
You know what I'd like to do... Why don't you run me by that hotel we'll check it out. Mickey: Yeah, well I'll drive you out there but I'm not gonna rob it for you, you have to do that yourself. I got stomach trouble... no guts. See more » |